You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 107

Thanks to Doel’s help, we reached the summit where the air was chilly. As I rubbed my forearm, I could feel goosebumps. Wait, since I’m a bird, would it be called bird bumps? For some reason, a peculiar advertisement popped into my head.

I slowly walked forward to examine the cave. It had looked big enough from below, but up close, it was not only enormous but also exuded an oppressive aura. The cave entrance resembled the mouth of a giant beast.

Gulping, I finally managed to lift my feet from the ground and carefully entered the cave. Near the entrance, I could still make out objects, but as we went deeper, darkness enveloped my entire body, making it impossible to see even an inch in front of me.

A certain movie from my original world came to mind, sending chills up my spine. The protagonists had entered a deep cave like this and ended up being eaten by zombie-like creatures… Ugh, I shouldn’t have remembered that. I shuddered, feeling even more frightened.

“Doel… I can’t see anything.”

Needing to feel Doel’s warm body temperature for reassurance, I reached out blindly. My fingertips touched what felt like Doel’s forearm. Thank goodness. Letting out a small sigh of relief, I pulled the firm arm close and hugged it.

Perhaps due to being deep inside the cave, the humidity was high and there was a cool sensation in the air. But I don’t remember it feeling this damp last time… Doel must have sensed something was off too, as he spoke in a cautious voice:

“The atmosphere feels different from before.”

“Huh?”

I stopped walking, sensing something strange. This is odd. Is it just the echo in the cave making his voice sound like this? I carefully chose my words and spoke hesitantly:

“Doel?”

“Yeah?”

“Um… You are next to me right now, right?”

I asked, tightly gripping what I assumed was Doel’s forearm. I could have turned my head to check his face, but a strange fear prevented me from trying. As I swallowed hard, Doel called out to me.

“Seol.”

“Yes…?”

“I think I’m behind you…”

“Come on, that’s not a funny joke!”

I laughed awkwardly and slapped what I thought was Doel’s shoulder. I expected Doel to say something after being hit like that, but the Doel beside me remained silent.

“…Doel? Did I hit you too hard?”

“No, I wasn’t hit at all.”

Doel’s firm voice reached my ears. The sweat that had been beading on my back now started to trickle down my waist.

“It’s… warm…”

Had I been mistaken about the genre all along? Was this not a novel I’d entered, but a zombie movie? I gulped and slowly loosened my grip on whatever I had been holding onto like a lifeline.

I mustn’t let the zombie notice.

Though I intended to move away as quietly as possible, I couldn’t control my hands that were shaking like they had motors attached. Fortunately, the unidentified thing I had been holding onto didn’t seem to notice me until I completely let go.

Phew, I sighed in relief and took a step back. At that moment, something large firmly grasped my wrist.

“Aaaaah!”

I’m going to be eaten! I’m going to be devoured!

Sweat filled every orifice on my face – eyes, nose, everything. Terror made my nostrils flare as I tried to move away from whatever had grabbed me, but its grip was so strong that breaking free was nearly impossible.

“Seol!”

“Waaah!”

As I struggled desperately, I tripped on something and fell backwards with a thud. The thought of being eaten made me tremble as I tried to get up, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. In the end, I just sat there shaking when suddenly, a hot breath touched my ear.

“Eek.”

The creepy sensation made every hair on my body stand on end. As I remained stiff as a board, something slimy licked my ear.

I guess this is the end of my life. The image of the lover I’d left at home flashed through my mind. If I had known this would happen, I should have brought Karhan along. With heavy tears clinging to the corners of my eyes, I closed them. Just then, in the pitch-black cave, something sharp and glinting approached my side.

“Stop. Move any further and I’ll cut you.”

Doel’s angelic voice came from above my head. Fortunately, the creature holding me seemed to be a species capable of communication, as it slowly loosened its grip. Seizing the opportunity, I scrambled behind Doel’s back.

My heart was still pounding. The creepy sensation of something licking my ear lingered on my skin, refusing to fade. Terrified by the thought that I could have lost an ear, my trembling fingers clutched at Doel’s clothes.

As silence fell in the pitch-black darkness, an incongruous clapping sound suddenly echoed. The sound, which started right in front of us, spread wider and bounced off the cave walls. As the echoes disoriented our ears, a strange sight unfolded before our eyes.

The dark space was instantly filled with bright light, revealing the appearance of a luxurious room. The damp cave atmosphere had vanished, replaced by dry air that caressed our skin. It felt warm, and breathing was no longer difficult.

As I looked down at my hands and then raised my gaze, I discovered an annoying figure wearing a fresh smile.

“Asmil…?”

As I called out cautiously, Asmil seductively licked his lips. Ah, no way! I furrowed my brows and touched my ear. That damp, fleshy thing… could it have been…?

“A tongue?”

“Hello there.”

The culprit who had licked my ear, undoubtedly Asmil, waved his hand nonchalantly as he greeted us. Ugh. I kept my face scrunched up and rubbed my ear vigorously with my sleeve, almost as if trying to detach it. The slimy sensation just wouldn’t go away.

“You were the one who grabbed me while I was standing still.”

Seemingly offended by my vigorous ear-cleaning, Asmil pouted and shrugged his shoulders. Well, I suppose I did grab him first… Did I make the first mistake? I rolled my eyes around, unable to find the right words, and pressed my lips together.

As Doel cautiously took a step back to shield me, Asmil approached slowly with a lazy smile. In response, I could feel Doel’s arm muscles tensing as he gripped his sword. Asmil’s red eyes slowly scanned us both.

“What brings you back here?”

Although Asmil asked as if he knew nothing, his expression suggested he was well aware of why I had come. I mumbled for a moment before carefully speaking.

“So, um… about that blood, you know?”

“Yes?”

“The blood you were going to give me for Athlena… do you still have any thoughts about that…?”

I looked at Asmil with my eyes as wide and innocent as possible. Blinking to evoke even a little sympathy, Asmil replied with a bright smile:

“Well. Didn’t we end that conversation when you left the room back then?”

“Ah, no. I was wondering if there was anything else you wanted besides that condition…!”

I clenched my fists, showing my eagerness to do anything. Emerging from behind Doel, I straightened my shoulders like a job applicant and put on a trustworthy smile. Asmil let out a thoughtful “Hmm” as he looked me up and down.

“There is one thing I could have you do…”

As Asmil raised one corner of his mouth in a sly smile, Doel reached out and grabbed my wrist. I could feel him trying to hide me behind him again, but I couldn’t back down now. I bowed my head deeply and shouted:

“Just tell me what to do!”

Asmil moved even closer, and I could see the well-polished toe of his shoe. As I lifted my gaze slightly, Asmil’s red eyes met mine.

“There is one favor I could ask… Think you can handle it?”

“W-What is it…?”

Asmil kept trailing off, unlike his usual self. What could this favor be that he’s building up such suspense? Unable to hide my curiosity, I blinked rapidly for a brief moment. Asmil grinned suspiciously and leaned towards my ear. Then, in a whisper so Doel couldn’t hear, he murmured:

“It’s a very secret matter.”

Gulp. I was so tense that I could hear my own swallowing as I leaned in to listen. Asmil’s hot breath brushed against my ear, and I heard the sticky sound of his tightly closed lips slowly parting.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Huh?”

Asmil said only that before straightening up and moving away from me. Tell me later? But when? I couldn’t understand how he could say he’d tell me later when this was the only reason for my visit. I furrowed my brows, and Asmil shrugged.

“I don’t feel like telling you right now. Come back when I’m in the mood.”

“But I can’t come here every day!”

“After standing me up so many times, you can’t even show that much sincerity?”

His red eyes gleamed mischievously through narrowly slit eyelids. I knew the one in need should yield, but still… I chewed my lips in frustration, but Asmil showed no signs of listening to me.

As I stubbornly stood there without answering, Asmil pointed to the door with his finger. With a slight bend of his finger joint, the tightly closed door opened. Beyond the open door, the dark cave stretched out.

“Goodbye. See you later.”

Asmil smiled brightly, urging me to leave. Like a child, I poked out my lower lip and glanced at Asmil.

“Are you really making me go…?”

“Yes.”

At his cold words, I lowered my head to look at my knees. My legs, tightly wrapped in leather straps, were screaming that coming back here would be impossible. Even when I looked back at Asmil, he didn’t spare me a glance, as if he had lost all interest for the day.

As I let out a small sigh, Doel’s hand came to rest on my shoulder. His warm touch patted me as if to console me. I guess there’s no helping it. Since there’s no way right now, I’ll have to come back when my leg is better. He did say he had some “secret something” for me to do.

In the end, I had to postpone my deal with Asmil, filled with nothing but regret. I had resolved not to return to my original world, so what’s the big deal about coming here a few times? Once my leg heals, I’ll visit so often he’ll get sick of me. He’d better not regret it then. Huffing hot air through my nostrils, I exited the cave.